Key operated mechanism for type writing or like machines



Sept. 14, 1954 R H E 2,689,032

KEY OPERATED MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITING OR LIKE MACHINES Filed Aug. 6, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR REM/0L0 EARL WHEEZER flay M- ATTORNEY p 1954 R. E. WHEELER 2,689,032-

KEY OPERATED MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITING OR LIKE MACHINES Filed Aug. '6, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I." I, Y INVENTOR Q \fi REM/0L!) EARL WHEELER Patented Sept. 14, 1954 KEY OPERATED MECHANISM FOR TYPE- WRITING OR LIKE MACHINES Reynold Earl Wheeler, Farmington, Conn., as-

signor to Royal Typewriter Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 6, 1952, Serial No. 302,885

10 Claims.

This invention relates to key operated mechanism for typewriting or like machines, and more particularly to mechanism of the class referred to, including two key members operable selectively for actuating an instrumentality to be operated.

One object of the invention is to provide mechanism'of this class in which the key members are provided respectively with hand engageable portions so relatively positioned and combined as to facilitate operation of the instrumentality by a selected one of the key members, the selectivity of operation and the positioning of the hand engageable portions of the keymembers enabling the user to operate the instrumentality with maximum ease and speed and with a minimum of hand movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the character stated, in which the hand engageable portions include a finger engageable portion on one keymember and a palm engageable portion on the other key member, the palm engageable key lever being so arranged that it may be operated quickly by a slight tilting or turning of the hand without its being necessary to move the hand substantially from left to right of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism of the kind referred to, in which the key levers are so constructed that operation of one transmits movement to the other, the latter in turn transmitting movement to the instrumentality to be operated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tabulating mechanism.

Other objects of the-invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view fore and aft of a typewriter embodying the invention, some parts being shown in elevation, key mechanism being shown in full lines in its normal or non-actuated position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 but showing parts of the key mechanism in their actuated positions.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the key mechanism as seen when looking in the di rection of the arrow 3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the rear part of a typewriter illustrating the improved tabulating mechanism, some parts being shown in elevation; and Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view show- 2 ing the relation of certain parts of the tabulating mechanism. The typewriting mechanism shown by Way of example as embodying the invention in a preferred form is generally similar in many respects to theRoyal standard orfice typewriter and the Royal electric typewriter. It includes a main frame element A provided with a lower track or rail l on which a carriage element B, including end plates 2 and 3, is mounted for horizontal letter spacing and return travel by means of a carriage or top rail 4 and ball rollers, one of which is shown at 5 in Figure 4. The carriage B is equipped with the usual cylinder or platen C.

The carriage B is urged to the left, that is, in

the letterspacing or'typing spacing direction, by

suitable means such as a conventional spring drum (not shown) which exerts a steady pull on a draw bandconnected by a clip 6 to an ear I on the right hand carriage end plate 2. Move ment of the carriage to the left under the urge of the spring drum or other driving mechanism is governed by feed controlling mechanism, as shown an escapement mechanism including a rack 8 carried by an angle bar or rail 9 having rearwardly extendingarms l0 pivotally mounted on the carriage at H. Springs I2,'connected to rearwardly extending portions of the arms In and anchored at l3'on the carriage, normally hold the escapement rack 8 in the position shown in Figure 4, in which the rack meshes with an escapement pinion l4 journalled on a shaft l5 carried by a frame-mounted bracket Hi. The pinion I4 is fast with an escapement wheel I! adapted to rotate about the shaft l5 and to cooperate with suitable escapement pawls or dogs (not shown). In operation, when the escapement dog mechanism is actuated, the wheel I! is permitted to turn in step-by-step increments so as to permit the rack 8, and, consequently, the carriage to be fed to the left in the direction of typing. I

Key mechanism embodying the present invention may be used for operating various instrumentalities but is especially useful for operating tabulating mechanism, some parts of which may be of known construction'and arrangement. Conventional or known tabulating mechanism parts shown in the drawings include a support generally designated I3 mounted on the carriage and comprising upper and lower rack bars I9 nd M respectively formed with transverse grooves 2 I, 22 which register with each other and which are spaced longitudinally of the rack bars at letter space intervals.

Mounted on the stop frame or support I8 is a plurality of laterally settable tabular stop parts,

one of which is designated 23 and is shown in stop part is provided with a spring 29 mounted on a pin 31!, with one end hooked at 3| around the edge of the tabular stop just .above the lug 21, the other end of the spring being curved as at 32 so as to press against the top rack bar 19.

.The arrangement is such. that each tabular stop can be shifted transversely of the frame it to an operative position at 23' or to an inoperative position shown at 23 the spring 29 frictionally and yieldably maintaining :the stop in whichever position it has been set.

The support t8 serves also to assist in mounting'the carriage B for travel on the frame A. A

I bracket 33, secured to the lower toothed bar 20,

is provided at its lower end with a roller 34 adapted to run on 'a channel track 35 carried by the main frame A. The roller and bracket 33 thus support the rear of the carriage B which is supported at its front by the track rails l and 4 and the balls 5.

Also of known construction is a center stop lever 36cooperable with margin stops (not shown) on the carriagefor limiting the carriage travel and thus determining the rightand left-hand margins on work sheets. The center stop is pivoted at 31 on a frame-mounted bracket 38 and can be swung to move its 'upper end rearwardly and out of the path of the margin stops for margin releasing. .A line lock lever 39 is pivoted at 40 on the center stop lever 36 and is adapted to be connected in a known .manner to mechanism for preventing depression of the typewriter keys when the carriage reaches its line end position.

' The improved tabulating mechanism includes a tabular stop blade or finger device 4| fixed to,

a hub 42 adapted to rock on a shaft 43 carried by the bracket 38. A spring :44 interposed between a stud 45 on the finger 4i and an ear 46 on a fixed bracket 41 urges the finger 4| to rock clockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, to its normal or retracted position in which it is disposed out of the path of any operatively positioned tabular'stop 23 on the carriage B. The finger M may be rocked counterclockwise by improved mechanism, to be described, so as to position its upper end portionin the path of an operatively positioned stop 23' on the carriage.

In order'to enable the carriage to perform a .tabulating run, which will be arrested by engagement of an operatively positioned stop 23'v with the stop finger 4|, it is necessary to disable the feed controlling mechanism to render the carriage free to be moved toward the left .by the driving mechanism. For this purpose a disabling lever 48 is pivoted at 49 on the bracket 16 .and is provided with an upper arm 50 secured to which is a pressure block 51 underlying the escapement rack angle bar 9. When the disabling lever 48 is rocked clockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, the pressure block 51, which normally 4. is disposed below and out of contact with the angle bar 9, is raised was to lift the angle bar 9 and the attached escapement rack 8, thereby disengaging the latter from the escapement pinion l4. Disengagement of the rack 8 from the pinion I l disables the escapement mechanism and enables the carriage driving mechanism to move the carriage uninterruptedly toward the left so as to perform a tabulating run which will be terminated by engagement of the operatively positioned stop 23' with the operatively positioned stop finger 4!.

Since, as is apparent from the foregoing, it is necessary to disable the feed controlling mechanism and move the stop finger M to its operative position simultaneously in order to effect a .tabulating run of the carriage, mechanism is provided for causing the stop finger M to be moved to its actuated position when the disabling lever 13 is rocked to lift the escapement rack 8. As shown in Figures 4 and :5, a link connection $2 is pivoted at 53 to the disabling lever 48 and is pivoted at 54 to the stopfinger M. It is important that the movements of the disabling lever 48 and the stop finger 4-,! be related and determined precisely in order to ensure eflicient and dependable operation. Accordingly, the link 52 is constructed so as to be readily adjustable and, as shown, it includes two'l'ink :parts 52 and 52*, the part 52 being provided with slots 52 adapted to receive screws 52 having threaded engagement with the link part 52*. The screw and slot connection provides for easy and accurate adjustment of the length of the link 52, enabling the timing of movement and the relative positioning of the disabling lever t8 and the stop finger 4| to be :determined within close limits.

Mechanism 'for rocking the disabling lever '48 includes a rock shaft 55 mounted on a bracket 55 and an operating arm or lever '5? fast on the shaft Y55 and having its upper end rounded, as shown at 58, and disposed immediately behind a depending pad 59 on the disabling lever #58. Another arm 68, also fast on the shaft 55, is pivoted at 6! to the rear end of a link, generally designated 62, the front end of which is pivoted at '63 to a lever 6d pivoted on "the main frame at 35. A forwardly projecting arm of the lever fi l extends under :a cushion 161 carried by a frame cross bar =68, the cushion determining the upward movement of the lever arm 556 to its nor-- mal or non-actuated position. The link $2 is constructed so ,as to be adjustable in length and is shown as including :two connected link parts 8.2 and 62", the part W being formed with slots 152 which receive screws 152 having threaded engagement with the link part 62 When the lever 64 is rocked counterclockwise, the link '62 is pulled forwardly so as to rock the arm 60, the shaft 55, and the arm 5! counterclockwise. This causes the rounded part 58 of the arm 5'! to press against the pad 69 and rock the disabling lever 48 clockwise to raise the escapeshown associated with the tabulating mechanism. Figures 1, 2, and 3 show two selectively operable key members arranged for convenient manipulation at maximum speed and with flexibility, enabling the operator to operate the key mechanism selectively by using a finger in the normal manner or, in certain instances when more convenient, by merely tilting the hand to effect the key operation by pressure of the palmor side of the hand.

In the form shown, a key lever 69 is pivoted at its front end at on a bracket 1| secured to the frame A by screws 12. A roller 13 journalled on the rear of and projecting laterally from the key lever 69 overlies the lever arm 66. The key lever 69 is provided with a key top or finger engageable portion 14. When the key lever 69 is depressed by the application of finger pressure to the key top 14, the roller 13 depresses the front end of the lever arm 66 so as to rock the lever 64 counterclockwise and to pull the link 62 forwardly, thus effecting a tabulating run of the carriage in the manner previously described.

Another key lever 15 has its rear end pivoted at 16 on the bracket H. The front end of the key lever 15 provides a driving surface 11 which overlies a driven roller 18 carried by and projecting laterally from the key lever 69. The key lever 15 is provided with a palm engageable key top portion 19. When the key lever 15 is depressed or rocked counterclockwise its driving part or surface 1! drives the roller 18 on the key lever 69 downwardly so as to rock the key lever 69 clockwise and operate the lever instrumentality 64.

A spring 80 interposed between an arm 8| on the key lever 15 and a stud 82 on the frame urges the key lever 15 clockwise to its normal position determined by engagement of a stop part 83 on the key lever 15 with a fixed guide plate 84 carried by the frame cross bar 68. Raising of the key lever 69 is limited by engagement of a stoppart 85, formed on the lever 69, with the rear part of the bracket H As will be clear from inspection of Figures 1; 2, and 3, the finger engageable portion 14 on the key lever 69 is of relatively small area as compared to the palm engageable portion 19 on the key lever 15. The palm engageable portion 79 is elongated, with its longer dimension extending fore and aft of the machine, and the portions 14 and 19 are arranged contiguously and substantially in a general plane inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the front of the machine; and the hand engageable portions 14 and 19 are located between the key lever pivots I0 and 1B. This arrangement has been found to be especially conducive to facile and rapid operation of typewriters when performing such operations as typing bills on forms, requiring frequent type key operations interspersed with tabular operations. In performing such work, the tabular mechanism may be operated by the palm or side of the hand by merely tilting the hand, without requiring such bodily left-to-right movement of the hand as would remove the fingers from the letter or numeral key area of the keyboard.

The mechanism disclosed embodies the invention in a preferred form, but it is intended that the disclosure be illustrative rather than definitive. The invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a typewriter or like machine, an. instrumentality to be operated; a first key lever extending fore and aft of the machine; a pivot mount-- ing the front of said first key lever on the machine; means on the rear of said first key lever operatively connecting the latter to said instrumentality; a second key lever extending fore and aft of the machine; and a pivot mounting the rear of said second key lever onthe machine, a part on said first key lever underlying a part on said second key lever whereby depression of said second key lever will effect depression of said first key lever.

2. In a typewriter or like machine, an instrumentality to be operated; a first key lever extending fore and aft of the machine; a first pivot mounting the front of said first key lever on the machine; means on the rear of said first key lever operatively connecting the latter to said instrumentality; a second key lever extending fore and aft of the machine; a second pivot spaced rearwardly from said first pivot and mounting the rear of said second key lever on the machine, a part on said first key lever underlying a Part on said second key lever whereby depression of said second key lever will effect depression of said first key lever; and hand engageable portions respectively on said key levers and both being located between said pivots, said hand engageable portions being selectively manually actuatable for effecting operation of said instrumentality.

3. In a typewriter or like machine, an instrumentality to be operated; a first key lever extending fore and aft of the machine; a first pivot mounting the front of said first key lever on the machine; means on the rear of said first key lever operatively connecting the latter to said instrumentality; a second key lever extending fore and aft of the machine; a second pivot spaced rearwardly from said first pivot and mounting the rear of said second key lever on the machine, a part on said first key lever underlying a part on said second key lever whereby depression of said second key lever will effect depression of said first key lever; a finger engageable portion of relatively small area on said first key lever; and an elongated palm engageable portion of relatively large area on said second key lever and having its longer dimension extending fore and aft of the machine, said finger engageable portion and said palm engageable portion being located, when in their normal or non-actuated positions contiguously and substantially in a general plane inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the front of the machine with said palm engageable portion in front of said finger engageable portion.

4. In a typewriter or like machine, an instrumentality to be operated; a first key lever extending fore and aft of the machine; a pivot mounting the front of said first key lever on the machine; a roller mounted on said first key lever and projecting laterally therefrom and over said instrumentality for operating the latter upon depression of said first key lever; a second key lever extending fore and aft of the machine; a pivot mounting the rear'of said second key lever on a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; means for driving said carriage in the latter spacing direction; feed on rolling me ha ismjfor normally causing," ai carri ge to be fed by said driv ng m a s n n.- cremental letter spacing steps, said feed controls ling mechanism including a member adapted to be moved from a normal position in which it renders said feed controlling mechanism operative to a shifted position in which said member is disabled and said feed controlling mechanism is rendered inoperative whereby to release said carriage and enable it to perform a tabulating run; a disabling lever pivoted on said frame and being engageable with said member for moving the latter from its normal position to its shifted position; a pad on said disabling lever; a shaft; an operating lever on said shaft having a rounded portion contactable with said pad for rocking said disabling lever upon rocking of said operating lever; a tabular stop part on said carriage; a tabular stop device movably mounted on said frame and normally being positioned out of the path of said tabular stop part but being movable into an operative position in the path of said tabular stop part for arresting the carriage at the end of a tabulating run; a connection between said disabling lever and said tabular stop device for moving the latter to its operative position when said disabling lever is moved to its shifted position; and key operated means for rocking said operating lever.

7. In a typewriting or like machine, a frame;

a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spa-ca ing and return travel; means for driving said carriage in the letter spacing direction; feed controlling mechanism for normally causing said carriage to be fed by said driving means in incremental letter spacing steps, said feed controlling mechanism including a member adapted to be moved from a normal position in which it renders said feed controlling mechanism operative to a shifted position in which said member is, disabled and said feed controlling mechanism is rendered inoperative whereby to release said carriage and enable it to perform a tabulating run; a disabling lever pivoted on said frame and being engageable with said member for moving the latter from its normal position to its shifted position, a pad on said disabling lever; a rock shaft mounted on said frame; a first arm fast on said rock shaft and having a rounded portion contactable with said pad for rocking said disabling lever upon rocking of said shaft and said first arm; a tabular stop part on said carriage;

a tabular stop device movably mounted on said frame and normally being positioned out of the path of said tabular stop part but being movable into an operative position in the path of said tabular stop part for arresting the carriage at the end of a tabulating run; a link interposed between and operatively connecting said disabling lever and said tabular stop device for moving the latter to its operative position when said disabling lever is moved to its shifted position; a, second arm faston said rock shaft; and key operated means for rocking said second arm.

8. In a typewriting or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; means for driving said carriage in the letter spacing direction; feed controlling mechanism for normally causing said carriage to be, fed by said driving means in in; cremental letter spacing steps, said feed controlling mechanism including an escapement pinion journalled on said frame and an escapement rack mounted on said carriage and adapted to be moved from a normal position in which it engages 8; said pinion to a shifted position in which it is disengaged from said pinion and said feed controlling mechanism is rendered inoperative whereby to release said carriage and enable, it to perform a tabulating run; a disabling lever I pivoted on said frame and being engageable with said rack formoving the latter from its normal position to its shifted position; a pad on said disabling lever; a rock shaft mounted on said frame; a first arm fast on said rock shaft and having a rounded portion contactable with said pad for rocking said disabling lever upon rocking of said shaft and said first arm; a tabular stop part on said carriage; a tabular stop finger pivotally mounted on said frame and normally being so positioned that an end portion thereof is out of the path of said tabular stop part but being rockable so as to position said end portion in the path of said tabular stop part for arresting the carriage at the end of a tabulating run; a two part adjustable length link interposed between and connecting said disabling lever and said tabular stop finger for rocking the latter when said rock shaft and said disabling lever are rocked; a manually operable key; a second arm fast on said rock shaft; and a two part adjustable link interposed between and operatively connecting said key and said second arm.

9. In a typewriting or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; means for driving said carriage in the letter spacing direction; feed controlling mechanism for normally causing said carriage to be fed by said driving means in incremental letter spacing steps, said feed controlling mechanism including a member adapted to be moved from a normal position in which it renders said feed controlling mechanism operative to a shifted position in which said member is disabled and said feed controlling mechanism is rendered inoperative whereby to release said carriage and enable it to perform a tabulating run; a disabling lever pivoted on said frame and being engageable with said member for moving the latter from its normal position to its shifted position; a pad on said disabling lever; a shaft; an operating lever on said shaft having'a rounded portion contactable with said pad for rocking said disabling lever upon rocking of said operating lever; a tabular stop part on said carriage; a tabular stop device movably mounted on said frame and normally being positioned out of the path of said tabular stop part but being movable into an operative position in the path of" said tabular stop part for arresting the carriage at the end of a tabulating run; a connection between said disabling lever and said tabular stop device for moving the latter to its operative position when said disabling lever is moved to its shifted position; means including an instrumentality operatively connected to said operating lever; two key levers operatively connected to said instrumentality and respectively having hand engageable portions for selective manual actuation of said key levers with consequent operation of said instrumentality; and means mounting said key levers so that when they are in their normal non-actuated positions their hand engageable portions are aligned, contiguous, and substantially in the same general plane.

10. In a typewriting or like machine, a frame; a carriage mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; means for driving said carriage in the. letter spacing direction; feed con. trolling mechanism for normally causing said carriage to be fed by said driving means in incremental letter spacing steps, said feed controlling mechanism including a member adapted to be moved from a normal position in which it renders said feed controlling mechanism operative to a shifted position in which said member is disabled andsaid feed controlling mechanism is rendered inoperative whereby to release said carriage. and enable it to perform a tabulating run; a disabling lever pivoted on said frame and being engageable with said member for moving the latter from its normal position to its shifted position; a pad on said disabling lever; a shaft; an operating lever on said shaft having a rounded portion contactable with said pad for rocking said disabling lever upon rocking of said operating lever; a tabular stop part on said carriage; a tabular stop device movably mounted on said frame and normally being positioned out of the path of said tabular stop part but being movable into an operative position in the path of said -10 tabular stop part for arresting the carriage at the end of a tabulating run; a connection between said disabling lever and said tabular stop device for moving the latter to its operative posi- .tion when said disabling lever is moved to its shifted position; means including an instrumentality operatively connected to said operating lever; a first key lever operatively connected to said instrumentality; a second key lever; a driving part on said second key lever; and a driven part on said first key lever engageable by said driving part whereby actuation of said second key lever will actuate said first key lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Christian June 1, 1937 Robinson Aug. 30, 1910' 

